Another 5 on the WTF-o-meter... because depending on your tasters for bad films and awfully good ones, it can be a masterpiece of kino trash or so ghastly 60s pop kitch you want to hurl your biscuits at the screen. Played at 11 on the screechometer for full camp drama with three ingénues and one seriously deranged Judy-Merman type queen played with Crawford teeth by Susan Hayward, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS is a really hideous 60s 'star is bored' expose of NY stage and screen. It now of course is a comedy, no questions barred because of the arch bug-eyed acting and SERIOUS drama that is just plain laughable. There is a monumentally bad song spectacular called I'LL PLANT MY OWN TREE which needs to be preserved (or mummified) for posterity. What a howler. The gorgeous Sharon Tate only makes the film tragically sad for real but the rest oh whoo, blunderbuss acting that Yosemite Sam would love.

I stayed away from this movie because generally it is considered a terrible movie that is so bad that it is funny. In fact, I think the film is engrossing and quite well made. It is not quite as good as Robson's "Peyton Place," but not too far from it.

I think most people now agree that the early critics were wrong about the performances, Susan Hayward is sufficiently Betty Davis-like cunning, Barbara Parkins is innocently sexy, and Sharon Tate is charming and radiant. The controversy, I think, still centers around Patty Duke's performance. The criticism is that it is "over the top". However, she is supposed to be addicted to drugs, so the "over the top" performance is quite appropriate. If you have ever known people in that condition, you will realize that they act in exactly that style. As often happens, people cannot distinguish between the role and the actress. That is actually a sign of good acting. While it is not an Oscar worthy performance, it is quite competent. I think it is really a shame that her association with the movie ultimately hurt her movie career. We should remember that it was the biggest grossing movie of 1967, grossing more than "The Graduate" and "Bonnie and Clyde" Obviously, people could not have found Duke's performance that bad or the movie couldn't have been so successful.

Incidentally, I think the studio made a terrible mistake by firing Judy Garland. Apparently, the first scene she shot did not go well, but this is normal for a film. It takes a while for an actor to get into a role. The studio should really have showed some respect for her talent and at least filmed a few more scenes before making a decision. Studios were experiencing lots of financial difficulties at this time, so I think that caused some unfounded fears that the film wouldn't recoup its cost if it had to spend a few days re-shooting a few scenes. Judy should not be blamed for bad studio decisions regarding her.

I hope people will stop putting this film on their "so bad, it's funny" list and recognize it as an enjoyable and well told 1960's story about the light and dark sides of life in Hollywood. Like "The Betsy" or "Inside Daisy Clover," it is well made and fun film with some powerful scenes and performances.

Boy, they sure used to know how to make bad movies. Nowadays, when movies are bad, they're boring and slow. Valley of the Dolls had everything - everything to make it the camp classic that it has become. Choice moment: The pathetic outfit Patty Duke wore on the telethon. When a sendoff of the film was done off-Broadway, the person who played Neely O'Hara had the necklace glued to her dress. Then there's the song "It's Impossible." I'm a musician. I've heard that song a million times and I can't hum it. Ditto "I'll Plant My Own Tree." The one song I do know is "Come Live with Me." More choice moments: the wig scene in the bathroom; "Art films! NUDIES!"; the scene in the asylum when Neely and Tony find one another vis a vis "Come Live with Me;" "I'll go out the way I came in," and of course that final "NEELY O'HARA!" Too many to list. Of course, it's very sad to watch Sharon Tate, a beautiful woman, and realize what happened to her. Barbara Parkins is very beautiful as well, and very '60s in that modeling montage.

Demands numerous viewings.